Hospital launches phone app in bid to reduce bike casualties

A hospital that has saved more than 660 critically injured cyclists in a decade is asking riders to send it details of crashes and near-misses on their mobile phones.

Researchers at the Royal London Hospital hope the launch of a “crowd-sourcing” phone app will enable them to create a database of the capital’s most dangerous junctions to help deliver road safety improvements.

Backed by TV journalist and cyclist Jon Snow, the “Bespoke” study is being led by orthopaedic and emergency doctors who campaign on road safety after themselves suffering cycling injuries. They have acted after an “unacceptable” rise in the number of cyclists with fatal or critical injuries being brought to the Royal London, which has the busiest major trauma centre in the UK.

Casualties have risen nearly 400 per cent over a decade, from 24 in 2004 to 117 last year, of which four — including Royal London nursing assistant Maria Karsa — died of their injuries.

Mr Snow said: “The innovative Bespoke data project led by researchers in London’s biggest emergency department is key to unlocking data which is currently lacking from the debate about cycle safety in London. I urge all London cyclists to get involved.”

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The project, the flagship of the Barts Charity safe cycling appeal, officially launches on September 29 and is the first to gather specific data about non-fatal collisions and their wider impacts. It aims to provide “clear evidence” to inform the debate on road safety, which researchers believe is being governed by “speculation and politics” rather than facts.

Cyclists can use the app or visit the project website — www.bespokestudy.co.uk — to enter details of a collision or near-miss and the outcome in terms of injury and long-term impact.

Belinda Dee, director of development at Barts Charity, said: “Although most cycling incidents are preventable, the data is appalling.

“What we do know is limited to the most serious incidents only. The ultimate aim of the Bespoke project is to reduce casualties.”

Researchers also want information on riding conditions at the time of an accident, how long it took cyclists to recover from injuries, and whether they felt able to get back on a bike.